So I finalized my plans yesterday! And drew out my bench plan. I found pretty much everything I wanted and could use for small space organization. Most of what I found was for houses and worthless to me. I found some great ideas for small shops though. The one I like the most is something I found called ceiling drawers. At least 2 of these will be going in the ceiling of my shop. I’ll be storing my sanders, jig saw, and whatever else I can fit in there. Speaking of sanders, I found an interesting way to store sheet sand paper. Using a 3 ring binder and binder folders. I think we have a few spare binders around. I might try it.

So the bench top is pretty well figured out in my last post of the series with the clamping area and flip top. Under my bench will be 2 sets of drawers, 1 set 3” deep, the other 4” deep. Under the drawers will be 2 sets of, well, open drawers. Basically shelves with drawer rails on them so I can pull them out to easily access everything on them. These will be about 12” deep. That’s where all tools with cases will go. These may or may not have doors.

Above the bench I’m planning a pegboard cabinet and I have decided on sliding panels rather than hinged doors. Mostly because I don’t have any hinges! And I don’t want to have to buy any. I do, however, have roller blade bearings that are sitting on my bench going to waste. I can use these to make glide rollers morticed into the bottom edge of the panels, and route a track into the front edge of the bottom of the cabinet. I’m still debating on if I want to put some shelves in the cabinet or not, but I’m going to drill some holes for some shelf pegs just in case. I’m also thinking of making some shelves and trays to hang on the pegboard like the ones that are right under the ceiling drawers in the link above.

The flip top portion of the bench will not be home to my scroll saw after all. Last night I broke out the tape measure and found that my scroll saw is longer than the bench will be wide. So instead it will be home to my drill press. That’s a good thing anyway. I don’t think I would be comfortable cutting on my scroll saw with it any higher than it is now, and I was having worries about vibration issues.

For the pivot of the flip top I’ll be using some 1/2” steel bar that I’ve had around for a while, and I’m imagineering the locks as I type. I’m going to space the sides about 1 1/2” apart using 2 layers of 3/4 oak in the center to support the pivot bar, and pine 2×4’s for the rest of the frame. I’m just going to have to figure out how to bolt the drill press to one side. If I do it before I put it all together, it’ll make it a severe PITA to assemble and install the flip top. Maybe get some carriage bolts and sink the square portion of the head into the back of the DP side so I can assemble it and install it without having the weight of the DP to worry about.I’m pretty sure that’s going to be the way to go with that.

So, that’s my plan, and as long as the weather holds for Sunday (it’s supposed to be 72 and sunny here in Va) that’s when I’ll be starting! This is gonna be great!!!

Lol, I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, but this sothern living over the last 13 years has made me soft. I would still be out there though even if it was in the 30’s, as long as it wasn’t raining anyway. Being in construction I’m no stranger to working in the cold.

Welcome to Lumberjocks Stayinbroke.I have to concur that you are in deed, in need of some serious shop organization. Remember, that sometimes plans don’t always work out as imagined, and that trial and error usually take place more often than not. Having looked at the type of projects you do and the pics of your shop, I tend to wonder how your plans will actually work in reality. Which is where the trial and error come into play.

So, allow me to mess with your plans and offer another option to your storage plans. Given that the majority of your tools are hand tools and hand power tools, I wonder if vertical drawers wouldn’t be a better option to your storage needs. They could be built as a base to your workbenches providing quick and easy access and providing you with more storage area for other items. This would allow you to hang tools on tool holders allowing you to see and get at what you need. You also can put shelves in them to set your hand sanders on and other power tools on. This would allow you to make the drawers of various widths to accommodate your storage needs. Here’s the link for you to look at and consider the endless possibilities for your shop.http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/storing-500-cds-19518Do realize that you will need some type of bearing system on the bottom for the drawers to glide easily. Since you mention that you have roller bearings you could incorporate them into glides and if not, it only takes one roller bearing drawer for full extension per drawer. Sometimes a small investment is worth the headache you may save yourself.

Those vertical drawers might be something worth thinking about. I’ll have to play around with them in my head a little bit and see what i come up with. I did see something similar with pegboard where the guy made vertical drawers of sheets of pegboard, framed them, and slid them in a cabinet between sets of runners. I could do like a half pegboard half shelf kind of thing. Or, say 2 like that and 2 with trays on the top half. It depends on if they would provide enough room to store the tools I have in cases. I hate too but I might have to put my plan off for a few more days while I explore this. I already have 3 different configurations in my head.